The "Stonehenge of the North"

Date: Friday 2nd August 2013
Route: Arbor Low Circular on the outskirts of Youlgreave
Distance: 6 miles

A fantastic weekend in the Peak District earlier in the year made us hanker for more of the dramatic landscapes and wide-open countryside views, so when we had the opportunity of a long weekend, we couldn't resist going back.

This was the first of two walks we did over the weekend, taken from the AA's 1001 Walks guide (a huge folder, with helpfully removable pages). To be honest, this isn't the world's greatest walk, although it is pretty straightforward.

The first section takes you through fields to the ancient gathering site of Arbor Low with its 42 limestone pillars in a 40m circle (not exactly Stonehenge, more like Stonehenge after a tornado has passed through, but with great views across the countryside). Once you get to Arbor Low you can walk around the perimeter of the stone circle, but you probably get a better sense of the place from aerial photos than on the ground.

Also on the site is the even old burial site of Gib Hill, which contains two barrows and is thought to have been a ritual gathering place for 6,000 years - unfortunately this is all sealed and grassed over, so unlike the impressive barrows near Avebury in Wiltshire, there is very little to see.

The remainder of the walk follows the road back to the car park (and the welcome sight of the ice cream man!) - it's a shame that there isn't an alternative path back across the fields, as frankly the road is a bit dull.

It was interesting to see Arbor Low at first hand but this wouldn't top a list of the best walks in the Peak District. The ice cream was good though.